'Normal blame [is] spontaneous moralistic indignation against a wrongdoer.' It frequently serves also as a means of reducing tension in those with conflict about unneutralized id drives: superego aggression is diverted outward, preoccupation with 'the sins of others' provides partial gratification of one's own comparable drives, and other gains are derived in strengthening the defenses against a delinquent (acting out) solution. With increasing maturity, blame should be replaced by insight and understanding.